Analog MP3 Watch With Voice Recorder

Just out from Japanese company Thanko is this analog watch which not only plays MP3s, it has a built-in voice recorder--fancy that. Possibly the first such we've heard of, it remains to be seen whether the pick-up is any good. Great fun until you find out that your office buddy may be secretly taping your complaints about the boss to rat on you. Horrors. Just a pity the watch face can't double as an LCD panel.

Click to see a large image

Price: From 12,800 yen (US$121) to 19,800 yen (US$187)
Availability: Thanko
Device: MP3 watch with voice recorder
Basic specs: USB 1.1, 128MB to 512MB, MP3 and WMA support, playback bitrate of 32 to 256kbps, voice recorder functionality, adapter for 3.5mm, monaural, 64kbps 16kHz audio, 150-180g, supplied roll-up earphones, NiMH rechargeable battery, playback time of 9 hours, 2-hr charge time

CyberCarpet

As a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, it's always been a puzzle how Captain Picard and his crew of merry men could traverse the virtual worlds of the Holodeck without ever bumping into a wall. Now we know. The CyberCarpet is a project envisioned as a platform suspended over thousands of tiny spheres, which in turn float over a treadmill mounted on a turntable. Anyone walking on the 5m platform will keep walking back to the center without ever noticing. Hopefully, this won't be light years to completion.

Via Singularity News

Price: N.A.
Availability: Project in progress between Cognitive and Computational Psychophysics Department of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tuebingen, and the Institute for Applied Mechanics of the Technical University of Munich
Device: Walking platform for virtual worlds
Basic specs: N.A.

Desktop Sushi Robot

Imagine having your own personal sushi chef. Now imagine having the next best thing--your own sushi-making robot. At 50 Nigiri pieces a minute, you'll be the envy of your neighbors. Need we say more?

Goes well with the Katsutare Zara Soy Sauce Plate and Sushi Specs

Price: N.A.
Availability: Nasaco
Device: Sushi making machine
Basic specs: 3,000 pieces/hr, 350 x 480 x 700mm, about 40kg, hopper capacity 8kg, feeding amount adjustment 18 to 25g/each rice ball, touch panel equipped in Japanese, English or Chinese versions

Episode III Darth Vader Voice Changer

A moment please for a snigger. With Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith just around the corner (May 18 for Singapore), vendors have been busy with their own kind of revenge, dropping Star Wars gizmos on eager-beaver fans which include this Darth Vader Voice Changer helmet. Don it and you'll instantly sound like the dark one, with voice conversion, breathing mode and five Darth Vader quotes to draw from. Since it's said to be adjustable for all head sizes, we're betting that some of our more loony starry-eyed colleagues will quietly purchase this online for some closet moments. May the Force be with them!

Get the closeup | box image

Price: US$36.99
Availability: Ships May 1, StarWarsShop.com
Device: Star Wars collectible
Basic specs: Helmet, mask, chest plate, voice adjusts to three different pitches, helmet size for 5-year-olds to adult, five quotes comprising "The Force is with you", "You don't know the power of the dark side", "Don't make me destroy you", "Your powers are weak", and "There is no escape"

Scent Dome

The Japanese have been there, done that. However, US-based TriSenx seems to be enjoying the sweet smell of success with its personal olfactory device. UK broadband provider Telewest is apparently already testing ScentMail to let people send aromatic emails. Meanwhile, Utah-based Dimension's Edge is ready to release a new virtual basketball game which, when hooked to a Scent Dome, will reward players with whiffs of popcorn or hot dogs when points are scored. Moms will probably be more interested in a software package that lets kids learn the alphabet through scent recognition, such as a whiff of apple for the letter A. If Scent Dome takes off, we're expecting Internet advertisers and spammers to smell this a mile away.

Via Popgadget.net

Price: US$369
Availability: TriSenx
Device: Tangible user interfaces
Basic specs: 5.5 inches tall, utilizes 20 base aromas to mix-and-match scents

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (2247)

» Digital Cameras (989)

» Notebooks (1245)

» PC & Peripherals (1312)

» Handhelds (586)

» Printers (83)

» Home AV (1150)

» Music & Play (897)

» Gadgets (1488)

» Future Tech (396)

» Green Tech (172)

» Lifestyle (158)

» Luxury (22)

» Home Appliances (58)

» Cars (100)

» Games and Gear (249)

» Software (96)

» Web (119)

Previously...

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Hot Topics

Subscribe to
Crave

What's Hot

apple apple inc. apple iphone apple ipod asia battery camera game google inc. iphone microsoft corp. microsoft windows mobile phone photograph singapore smart phone software sony corp. video

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads